My family walks
  up the steep hill of Brechfa forest
    sandwiches and thermos flask
      in my rucksack.
Rainbow on Akole's back
  Reece runs ahead exploring
      the green cathedral of
        Llanfihangel Rhos Y Corn.
My right eye watches the children
  as my left eye counts
    the habitats
      through a scientific lens.

    Long lived oaks
          slowly grow sturdy hardwood
          invest in the future.
    Hurried hazel
          sprouts and fruits
          feed fleeting squirrels.
    Sad willows bow
          weeping branches
          weave and heal.
    Feathered ash
          grows bark
          houses soft damp moss.
    Deep birch roots
          draw goodness
          recycles minerals.
    Elderly elms
          die from the Dutch pandemic
          dinner for insects and mushrooms.
    Early bluebells’
          royal blue carpet
          welcomes the spring,
    while musky fungi
          extend their network of decay
          repurpose brown leaves.
    Tall pine trees’
          resinous smell
          poisons competition.
    Among woodland's
          gothic arches
          there are many niches
    and even
          in a coniferous forest
          ants build hills.

We sit on a brown earth bank
  take out our picnic.
I stop counting habitats
  to share out
    chocolate biscuits.